The Kansas City Royals completed a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
The Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays finalized a small transaction during spring training that officially completed a trade the two clubs agreed to late last year.
Kansas City originally acquired outfielder Kameron Misner from Tampa Bay in November in a deal that was structured around cash considerations or a player to be named later. That final piece of the agreement was announced on Friday as spring training winds down and teams begin finalizing their rosters ahead of Opening Day.
“We have traded RHP Matthew Hoskins to the Tampa Bay Rays, completing the November 10 trade for OF Kameron Misner,” the Royals wrote on X.
The move sends right‑handed pitcher Matthew Hoskins to Tampa Bay as the player to be named later that completes the original transaction.
Hoskins was selected by Kansas City in the 12th round of the 2025 MLB Draft after a three‑year collegiate career at the University of Georgia. While the 22-year-old has yet to make his professional debut in affiliated baseball, the young right‑hander drew attention during his college career for the raw power in his arsenal.
His fastball regularly sits in the upper 90s and can reach triple digits, making him an intriguing developmental arm despite inconsistent results at the collegiate level. Hoskins also features a slider regarded as his best secondary offering and mixes in a changeup too.
Tampa Bay has built a reputation for identifying and refining high‑upside pitching talent, and Hoskins appears to fit that profile. While his command will likely need refinement early in his professional career, the Rays pitching development system could help maximize his power stuff over time.
From Kansas City’s perspective, the trade had already delivered its primary return months ago in Misner, who adds outfield depth and athleticism to the organization.
The 28‑year‑old left-handed center fielder was expected to compete for a role with the major‑league club. Unfortunately for Misner he was reassigned to minor-league camp in early March. He will still serve as a valuable depth option capable of contributing defensively if he is called up at some point this year.
For the Royals, completing the deal now simply closes the books on an offseason move that strengthened their outfield depth while parting with a long‑term pitching project.
As spring training continues, the focus for Kansas City now shifts fully toward preparing its 40-man roster for the upcoming season, while Tampa Bay begins the process of developing Hoskins into a potential future contributor on the mound.